​​​​EL PASO - The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released a list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, which now includes the neighborhoods of El Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita.

Located south of Downtown El Paso, the neighborhoods reflect the entire span of the city’s history, from the Spanish conquest through the modern era.

Home to an array of impressive historic buildings—such as adobe houses traceable to the 1850s and Victorian-era hotels and shops—the neighborhoods’ urban fabric and Latino and Chicano culture remain essential pieces of El Paso’s unique character.

El Segundo Barrio’s gained the historic role as the “Ellis Island of the Border,” after the first wave of Mexican families fled the Mexican Revolution and sought refuge over a century ago.

However, as El Paso’s development boom continues, El Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita face renewed threats of displacement and demolition.

The National Trust’s ReUrbanism work has demonstrated the ability of older and historic buildings to advance economic development opportunities while also adding to the livability and quality of life for urban residents.

By unleashing the power of older buildings in El Segundo Barrio and Chihuahuita, El Paso has the opportunity to preserve the neighborhoods’ past while also improving their long-term health, affordability, and prosperity, in addition to the well-being of their residents.